Angussola Angiisciola. or Agnosciola, Sofonisba, an Italian female painter, born at Cremona about 1530, died about 1620. After executing a number of portraits and some fine historical pieces, she went to Madrid in 1561, at the invitation of Philip II., and painted portraits of Queen Isabella and other celebrities of the Spanish court. Constant application brought on blindness in her latter years. Vandyke, who visited her frequently, was wont to speak with great respect of her knowledge of art. Her sisters Lucia, Europa, and Anna Mauia also painted, but were less distinguished than Sofonisba.